Parent of possible 2012 student - parental contributions

mumps

stedwell wrote: »

I agree that because she will not be at home I will be saving money and that will be a big factor for us in supplementing her loan. I think the main problem is that I haven't had 18 years to prepare for this, I have had 2. The money I had saved did not budget for £9000 a year fees although I do recognise that there is no point in even trying to contribute towards that. I just think it is a shame that extending your learning nowadays has to be a financial decision.
By the way, as a full time teacher I work many hours already although I am looking into private tuition as I will also have more time on my hands when she goes.

When I mentioned 18 years it was to OP who seemed to be talkingabout supplementing maintenance loan not paying fees.

SuziQ

You will save money just because she is away. Less food, less electric, fewer mum's taxi runs, fewer fivers lent.

As someone living on benefits due to ill health, I lost child tax credits for my daughter when she left-I was receiving the full amount-so I was much worse off and yet I was still having to send her meal packages as she had very little to live on after paying accommodation in a very expensive area. She didn't cost me loads living at home-making a meal for 4 is not that different than making one for 3 tbh- and never borrowed from me, she managed totally on her EMA , it being impossible to get work around here.She will really struggle this year, as neither her dad nor I can afford to give her much at all, and as she is doing a double degree she has too many contact hours at Uni to be able to fit a job in around the hours which are normally staggered throughout the day from early morning up until 8pm some days. She accepts it's tough and uses what little money she has on food and books etc rather than socialising-which is exactly the way she should prioritise. It is hard-and set to get harder next year (I doubt her brother will be able to follow her on to Uni) but I still feel it is worth the hardship, because she is getting a wonderful education, has had fantastic experiences (including living in Spain and going to Uni out there last year).Many of her friends locally (who also left 6th form with grade A A levels) are only able to get part time work or no work at all, so she is better off in education!

yenool

mumps wrote: »

My daugher worked all through A levels, in second year she was working between 24 and 30 hours per week. She got five A grades. At uni she works several jobs, working for the uni in two jobs and doing care work at weekends. She also works fulltime in the summer.

That is an impressive feat; she must have endless energy and be borderline genius if she managed to work 30hrs and pull off 5 A grades (either that or A-levels really are becoming too easy). I can't imagine how anyone could find time to attend school/college, study, revise and work 30hrs?

Also, what is she studying at Uni if she has time to work several jobs, weekends AND full time in the holidays?

mumps

yenool wrote: »

That is an impressive feat; she must have endless energy and be borderline genius if she managed to work 30hrs and pull off 5 A grades (either that or A-levels really are becoming too easy). I can't imagine how anyone could find time to attend school/college, study, revise and work 30hrs?

Also, what is she studying at Uni if she has time to work several jobs, weekends AND full time in the holidays?

To be fair her term time jobs are just a few hours each.

I don't know how she managed with A levels but her time management is excellent. She saved her holidays up so had four weeks off in month before exams and reduced her hours during the month or so she actually did exams. She did maths, further math and physics plus two others, I assume the maths and physics complemented each other which helped and she did further maths in one year. I can't do maths or physics so I don't really know.

She is studying for a BSc at a top five uni in her subject, on track for a first. I am always trying to get her to slow down and relax. She has been ill twice, once with meningitis, and I think her physical health would be better if she relaxed just a little more. I only wish her brothers worked half as hard, although they are doing OK.

marvell-kid

I'm a student just about to start my 3rd an final year of university.

From living in halls my first year and rented accommodation with 6 other mates in my second year it is apparent that the 'maintenance' loan given to students is just enough to cover rent and possibly Utilities.

This is an estimate of what I paid last year in rented accommodation and is only suppose to be used as an example
Loan - £3,225
Rent - £60/week for 11 months = £2,860
Utilities (Gas / Elec) = £7/week (roughly £700/quarter) split between 7 people. = £350
VM TV & Internet = (because there are so many of us we opted for a large package to split) £10/month = £120

Total spend = £2,860 + £350 + £120 = £3,222 so I have £3 to spend on food for the year. Not possible really apart from the money I earn over summer and Christmas helped me.

I earn't £4,000 working full time during the Summer and Christmas breaks (tax free for earning under £7,000 ish) and that almost went into savings for uni, apart from travel to work, food & drink and the odd birthday card to close family.
I enjoy myself at uni, and live the 'experience' but I know others cannot, I live with a couple TBH.

What you might be able to look at is sending food baskets for your daughter or a few supermarkets have a special card that your daughter takes to uni, and you can top it up when ever you like. She can then go to the supermarket and spend it on food. I couldn't tell you exactly what I spend, but don't be afraid of budget value products, if they taste bad, add ketchup . It might be an idea to do a practise spend on mysupermarket, for a weeks shopping (budget and plan meals ahead) so you can see what she might need.

Cardozo

RosieJD wrote: »

There seems to be alot in the media about the 'poor student' repaying the debt following Uni, but I'm more concerned about whether I/we can afford to to send her and pay the maximum parental contribution that is expected. It seems we are likely to fall into that category. The finance calculations do not take into account the mortgage or much of the 2nd child, or any debts that were accrued whilst we were not paid so well, but were attempting to provide for our children.
The course my daughter will be applying for is for 5 years, and due to the volume of work it appears that a part time job is not possible either in term time or during the holidays. (She will have to do unpaid work experience).
At present the only options are either to a) attempt to re-mortgage again or
b) seperate from spouse - and send daughter to 'live' with worst paid parent or c) say 'tough' survive for 12months on £3,322.
Has higher education become the remit of the rich or very poor or those able to wangle their tax returns?
To add insult to injury we both paid for our own degrees which I finished aged 44, whereas the policy makers were supported under the old grant system.

Hi, I'm a student.

Firstly (IMPORTANT), have you got £3,322 from the maintenance loan calculator? The maintenance loan you can apply for this year for students studying outside of London is £4,950 and £6,928 studying in London. By taking the loan without taking into account parental income (the quickest way of getting a loan) you receive up to 72% of these amounts. By ‘up to’ I mean it’s up to you whether you want it all or not. That means the minimum your daughter should have as a loan is £3,564. That’s already £244 more.


To live off £3,564 isn’t impossible. I’ve managed it for 2 years and I am about to do it again. I go out frequently and it’s cheap for students we drink before we go out in our flats. You can give her money here and there if need be but I have never asked for any. Plus banks will fall over backwards to offer free overdrafts to her.

A job is required though. Don't believe she has no time for it, she'll be out most of the nights of the week regardless of what she tells you. 12 hours a week at work will do nicely.

RosieJD

apple_pies wrote: »

Seems a bit selfish that you're willing to pay for your own degree but kicking up a fuss when it comes to your daughter. Parents are expected to contribute; everyone else does. If your income is over the threshold for grants, you must live a comfortable enough life. Other people have mortgages and other children, but they still manage to help their children with rents. Health students have to undertake compulsory, unpaid work placements; I disagree with the first reply's statement on that very basis, because it's not a simple "choice" to do unpaid work that precludes the option of part-time work. Health courses (if this is the kind of thing OP's child will be going into) lead to very secure jobs and are an entirely sensible degree choice; they also lack tuition fees and reduce the amount of long-term debt.

As a parent, I would struggle to support a child who wanted to study media, art etc. with no long-term goal, but I would entirely support someone who wished to work towards a solid career and feel it was my duty to do so.

If you insist on being stingy, you should consider offering your child a loan for the duration of her course, to be paid back as she graduates. You presumably pay for her food at the moment; why not give her the same amount when she moves to University?

To clarify... for 2012 the threshold has dropped to a joint income beneath £42000. I had to take a degree for my job it was not through choice and though we manage, for a number of reasons, we struggle to provide additional extras. I am not being stingy, if I could provide fully for her I would.
My daughter does work at the moment, but due to the experiences required to get into Uni (all are unpaid) her paid work is reluctant to allow her holidays before exams. If she manages to get onto her course for 2012, the contact hours at Uni are huge and they have to complete 12 weeks unpaid experience in different areas during the holidays. so holiday work will be hard to get, though i am sure she will try. If she gets on her chosen course i will pay to keep her there, for it is likely to provide for her afterwards, but for a less safe degree option i think that the 'silly option' to marry her off first might be the one to choose. incidentally with my 'silly' options it is the advice that a friend was given by the Citizens advice bureau!!

RosieJD

If she gets on her chosen course, the report from all her colleagues is that you have so much contact time at uni, you cannot work and the faculty actually try to preclude you from working.

Oldernotwiser

The obvious answer is for her to take a year out and work to build up her savings so she needn't work whilst on the course. As she is due to start in 2012 anyway, the fees will be the same and you could apply this coming year for a deferred place for 2013 entry.

mummyplus3

There will be a student job shop at the uni when she goes, they will look for student ambassorder etc.. which at my college is paid at £5 an hour in the local shopping centre vouchers rather than a job job so she could sign up to do things like that. She could look into promo work with the local radio stations being a heart angel or something, those hours are more varied due to the nature. I am sure she will find something if she is applying to go for next year the loans and grants are going up so she wll get more money anyway. I am sure she will be fine